Turbulent Sea (Drake Sisters, Book 6) Reviews

• Left a LOT to be desired

  
  By ARSR7HM2FELWV on 2008-08-01
  I was a little disappointed. . .This story has been building and building with tension, background and unexplored passion. But we get to the story and I found our heroine to be a little whiny and the hero not sharing a darn thing. I was hoping for more background with his story but he choose not to share with her and told he b=never would. I felt the story revolved around the second characters more than the main, which was interesting but not what I expected or even wanted. For me the lowest rated book of the series, not up to my expectations.
  
  

• Yes and Somehow No

  
  By A3FLX3NJNVCXQM on 2008-07-31
  OK, I have been so eager for this book I was counting down the seconds for a year to its release. On the one hand I loved it. The love scenes were smoking hot and exactly what I was hoping for for these two (hence the 4 stars). On the other hand--and this happened with Hannah in Safe Harbor as well--Joley's character development was somehow off. Suddenly the fun loving girl was not worthy and dark with her needs but it was a shallow portrayal of this emotion by Feehan. Furthermore, it never came to true satisfying resolution as it was never that well defined to start with. And Ilya who professed to not know anything about a relationship was the one that was having it fabulously! Something was very forced about Joley, even the first few pages sounded very cliche and incredibly cheesy until Ilya came into the book. So, while he was as hot as I hoped (the "mine" thing reminded me a bit of the Dark series), Joley was not at all as cool and interesting as she was in every other Drake book. Additionally, in other books the supporting sisters were more involved, in this one, and I was REALLY hoping for a great setup for Jackson and Elle, and I just didn't feel like I got it.
  
  

• Follows the typical Feehan Formula.

  
  By A38DGN2C1GJ9NY on 2008-08-09
  In Christine Feehan Drake Sisters series (book 6) was one I anxiously anticipated for obvious reasons. Chris Feehan writes some of the best, and most breathless love scenes around and Turbulent Sea follows that same formula. However, the one knock against this celebrated author is leaving a characters underdeveloped and that happens here (Just a little bit) The character Joley never seemed to reach her full potential and that led to the 4-star rating (of course, this does change when Ilya enters the story) So while the book does follow the typical Chris Feehan Formula, by book six the characters just fall a bit short.
  
  Editor of the novel: Fates by Georgiou, Tino Fates (2nd Edition)
  
  
  

• Didn't feel like a Drake Sisters novel

  
  By A2PL0US7RN67G on 2008-07-31
  First, let me say that I bought this book hard copy because I couldn't wait for the Kindle version to come out. I wanted this book so badly. I feel in love with both Ilya and Joley in "Safe Harbor" Both Ilya and Joley had such chemistry in that book. Ilya especially was a forceful character even though Jonas was the main character of that story. However, in this story I found Ilya to be weaker in character. He didn't have that edge for me. He didn't command the same presence. Nor did Joley. Neither character seemed to come out in this book the same way they had in previous books. I also didn't get the same family feel in this book. If you were to read this book, without ever reading any previous book, you wouldn't know what a Drake sister was. All of her other books had a generous amount written about the realationships with each sister and each book used their powers much more. I loved the story, loved the love story between these two, but I really couldn't grasp it as a Drake sister book. A romance, yes, Drake Novel, no. Joley didn't even use her powers in this book. She didn't develop them as the others did in theirs. I'm disappointed in this book because it felt contrived. Re-read "Safe Harbor" and then "Turbulent Sea" and then decide. I hope Elle's and Jackson's story is written as well as "Safe Harbor".
  
  

• The Best of the Drake Sisters books

  
  By A342BV4226SM5Y on 2008-08-04
  This one has it all. Great action, great romance, and great mystery. The action is fast and full of zest. The romance is hot and sweaty, and the mystery, which is one of Feehan's lesser abilities, is really good. I really enjoyed the book and I was glad it focused on two people and one good mystery. It did not jump around too much.
  
  Joley is back on tour. She is still a bit worried about the reverend, RJ, but all in all the tour is going well. She is receiving hate mail and worries about a stalker. When the incidents start, Nikitin offers the services of Ilya Prakenskii. Joley is leery of her responses to Ilya and tries to keep him at a distance. But when real danger arrives she is glad to have him near.
  
  Ilya is not what he seems. She already knows he has the gifts her family has and he has all of the gifts. He is not ready or willing to open his chamber of secrets to anyone. His life has been a very lonely one and he doesn't really know how to be with anyone. Never in his life has he even thought about a relationship. But Joley takes him apart, bit by bit, and he has found what completes him, he is not willing to let it go.
  
  Someone seems to have it in for Joley, she can't figure why and can only think of a stalker. She has one man murdered, and he is the one she confronted about the underage girls, esspecially the one who is missing. Without her family she is closest to her band and instinctively turns to them for support during this period. However, when Ilya arrives, it is only in his presence she feels completely safe. Why, she can't figure out because she knows he is a cold blooded killer. But still he gives her a sense of safty she has only felt with her family.
  
  I loved this book and I hope the next one will be as good.
  
  
  
• The Weakest book in the Series
  By A2P84XGBOF4UVZ on 2008-08-06
  This is the sixth story in the Drake Sisters series (one more to come) and it was not Ms. Feehan's best effort. Joley had all this angst about always picking losers and being a bad person with oblique references to perhaps being a bit BDSM but not actually saying it. Her relationship with the band was not believable to me as well. Ilya was much more interesting than Joley and her character was a bit of a disppointment. Hannah and Joley seem to be missing the Drake girl's backbone. That being said, I would buy it again in a minute to keep up to date with the Drake sisters.
  
  
• Turbulent Seas Worth the Wait
  By A2SLBMWYAMBLIM on 2008-07-30
  [Spoiler Alert] I read this book in one night. It was great. Totally what I have been waiting for. I loved the byplay between Ilya and Joley, how both of them need to learn to trust and learn to love. You really see why they were meant to be together in the end when Joley agrees to marry him. That was the scene when it all came together for me. The only thing I did not like was the unlike all the other Drake Sister books, the rest of the sisters also play a roll. Not in this book, they don't come into until the end. But there is a reason for that Joley and Ilya's story needed to be told in the world of music and focus on her music life and wrap up the puzzle of Sergi Nitikin. What's more you learn why Joley needs Ilya and why Ilya needs Joley.
  
  It was a great book and I highly recomend it.
  
  
• dark and moody
  By A1SA38937HEENJ on 2008-08-01
  I don't do reviews often, I don't feel comfortable doing so. However, I wanted to put in my two cents.
  
  I was waiting on pins and needles for this book, and I was not disapointed, for the most part.
  
  My review may be more in answering how I see the relationship between all the sisters and also Jolie with Illya.
  Having read other reviews, I can agree I would have liked and believed the other sisters should have been more in the book. And I would have liked to see the book set up for Ellie's and Jackson's story. My suspicion is Ellie is somehow working on exposing RJ for the evil person he is.
  
  As for Jolie and Illya, I could see where she felt separate from her sisters. When you look at them, Katie doesn't have a mean bone in her body--her gift is totally giving. Abby has a temper, yes, but she also is giving and more important, she is willing to forvie others; Libby and Hannah, they both place others ahead of themselves although differently, Libby as a doctor and Hannah due to her nurturing (not because she is female), which is just her makeup.
  Jolie, she is fire--she get mad easily and she has a hard time forgiving. She can hold a grudge and lashes out and doesn't feel guilty, generally, over it.
  What causes her to feel she is different and can't share that with her sisters is she believes if her sister's truly knew those aspects about her they wouldn't love her. Illya however, has experienced all the darkness and he can see past her "darkness", Jolie has seen goodness, she doesn't realize her "bad" parts are not nearly as bad as she perceives them. Illya needed a fiesty mate, someone who will stand up to him and Jolie will, but he needed someone who can bring light, and Jolie does have light, she just can't see it because her sisters light seem to overshine her's. Jolie needs someone who can control her and not see her "darkness" in a negative manner and help her in accepting that part of herself, Illya can do that. (sheesh, I seeming to make this like the Dark series, light to darkness).
  
  As for the story, the beginning did seem to drag a little slow. But the rest is well worth it. The subplot with Brian and Sergi, that was a total shock to me and I loved where C.F. threw everyone for a loop in that aspect.
  Illya's seeming to be milder than what he was in Hannah's story is due to the fact he had time after he met the family for the gentle side of him to grow. And he had to appear dark looking at the type of job he was doing. The "niceness" of him was shown several times, protecting the hostage, his wife, Abby at the beginning when she was in the house, and there to help at the end. He did keep the dark side visible to others, but to Jolie, he showed the gentle side of himself.
  
  Why four stars? There is always room for improvement in any books, my main reasons: it did start a little slow; there should have been more of the other sisters and there should have been a setup, even if just a tad bit, of Ellie and Jackson, althogh the stating she was undercover did somewhat.
  I have read it twice now, first to find out what happens, the second time to examine it, pros and cons of it. There are definitely more pros than cons.
  
  JLY
  
  
• Disappointed...
  By A21H7N7V1BRLHC on 2008-08-01
  The long awaited novel of Joley, the famous, fun loving, "bad girl" Drake sister and Ilya, the mysterious hit man bodyguard with magic of his own. Should be a real page-turner for Drake sister fans, right? Wrong. Add adjectives such as insecure and lacking confidence to describe Joley and domineering chauvinist to describe Ilya.
  
  Perhaps I should wait to finish reading the entire novel, but it's a struggle to get through the first half. Reason being...slap the name Dark Sea or something like it on the cover and you could have another of Ms. Feehan's Carpathian novels.
  
  I love the Drake Sisters and Ghost Walkers, but the Carpathian male leads are too over bearing for me. The whole "You're my light and sanity and trust that I know what's best for you," makes me cringe. No thank you. Ilya is to be Joley's partner not father. If you love the Carpathian series, this is a book for you.
  
  
  
  
  
• Another letdown
  By AUGI9RAYNFA1J on 2008-08-01
  I could hardly wait for Joley and Ilya's story. I read the Drake Sisters novels first, then reluctantly read the Carpathian series. Honestly, this book felt like a merger of the two series, and it didn't work for me.
  
  One of the strengths of the Drake Sisters series is the interaction between the sisters. Unfortunately, that was largely absent in this book.
  
  I know that Joley falls in love with Ilya because Feehan tells us so. I didn't "see" it, though. The entire Joley/Ilya relationship felt forced, and there was little character development. What exactly were Joley's "dark needs"? I knew from the other books that Ilya is an Alpha Male, but he was too borderline Carpathian for it to work for me in a Drake Sister novel.
  
  
• My Favorite Drake Sisters! Worth the Wait!
  By A4OCYNT0J6RNF on 2008-08-12
  Like the other reviewers, I am an avid Feehan fan and I especially like the Drake sisters series. I've been waiting for Joley and Ilya's story with much anticipation and for me it did not disappoint. The love scenes are smoking hot...hotter than any of the other Drake sisters, but I would have expected that for Joley and especially the dominant Ilya. And I never saw the "surprise" coming, but it added such a chuckle and a fun spark. I actually liked that the other sisters took a back role in this book...Joley has always been on the edges of the sisters because she was gone so much. And Ilya would never have permitted much input magically from them. He's the ALPHA and he would take care of his woman. And he did! In more ways than one! Love the book...and frankly, I would like to see a follow up...say about seven or eight years into their married life!
  
  
• Confused
  By A2IYR75I6H5RGE on 2008-07-30
  Couldn't wait for this book to come out. I was up until 2:00 am reading.
  
  I love Ilya, and after understanding his childhood and backstory, I can understand his trust issues...but I still don't understand the full angst, trust and "dark needs" that Joley felt so strongly did not allow for her to be loved and always separated her from being her "true self" with her sisters and everyone else around her.
  
  Without any real explanation in her background for this, it felt like a plot contrivance to keep her from reaching out. In fact, Ilya was more inclined to reach through her silly barriers than she was each time they interacted. Addtionally, access to her from random/crazy/bad people and the amount of times she was in danger was ridiculous.
  
  On the other hand, the musical subplot and mystical use of rhythm and chords was expertly done. For a non-musical person like me, I still fully understood it and felt the connection between the two completely and utterly. That kind of writing is impressive to me. Between that and the subplot with Brian and Nikitin, that saved the book despite the heroine's eye-rolling self esteem issues.
  
  
  
  
• Great but not excellent...
  By AR21EYORZBR9E on 2008-08-01
  I've been waiting on this book since "Ocean's of Fire" when Ilya was introduced, so it is possible that I was expecting too much. This was a good book, but there were several things that were lacking to me.
  
  1. Interaction with the Drake family. I really missed the love and strength of the Drake family/husbands that is normally present in a Drake book. I like reading about those past characters, which is one of the reason's I love this series so much.
  
  2. It feels like a short book for CF. Although, with the story line, there wasn't too much she could add. In fact, I felt that there were parts where she was just elaborating to make the book a bit longer.
  
  3. The "dark needs" of Joley could have been explained better, although I think I understand where CF was going with it. There were a lot of BDSM type innuendos and I think that Joley was ashamed to admit that she wanted someone to be dominant over her, while keeping her own independence. Maybe I'm way off base, but there wasn't a lot to go on with this "reason" CF gave for Joley's issues. Perhaps CF thought that introducing BDSM was a bit much for her normal readers.
  
  Overall, I did like the book, it was just different then what I expected. Joley and Ilya still have great chemistry and I still feel like Ilya kept his Alpha presence. CF is known for her Alpha males and I love her all the more for it. Those who don't like that sort of thing should reconsider picking up a CF book, because she is a master at creating the dominant male hero.
  
  Even though I have issues with this book, I would still recommend it. CF is great and provides a supernatural romance like no other.
  
  Cheers!
  
  
• Did not Disappoint!!! Great Story
  By AJLZ5AGRG69GV on 2008-08-02
  After reading some of the reviews, I thought I would be disappointed. Nevertheless, I started to read the story and I have to say that I really enjoyed everything about Turbulent Sea. Here is my pros and cons list.
  
  Pros
  I love all of the Drake's stories and know they have a strong bond. However, for me I like that the focus was more on Joley's life as a star with all the highs and lows that comes with stardom. I also like that Joley had some of the same fears women get about losing themselves when attracted to what we considered dominating, controlling "Bad Boys". In addition, to me Ilya showed that even though he is dangerous and may have a lot of baggages, "Bad Boys" need love too, and that they too have a softer side even though they may not show it.
  I especially enjoyed the twist about Nikitin and I absolutely love that Ilya is the male version of Elle (spoiler).
  
  Cons
  I guess I am a like Joley's, I could not find anything to put on the cons side.
  
  I guess what I am trying to say is that to me this book did not leave me feeling disappointed. In fact, I cannot wait for Elle and Jackson story.
  
  
  
• Excellent
  By A3RG21WVYEHZOU on 2008-08-03
  Unlike many other reviewers who are a big fan of this author I read a few of her books and only liked "Safe Harbor". But in that book I liked Ilya ane Joley and was waiting to see how this book would turn out.
  
  Thankfully it was very good. I liked Ilya before but I fell in love with him here. He is passionate and exudes power but at the same time he has very soft spot for Joley. And I loved the way they could connect and tease each other without even touching one another.
  
  Of course it depends on what you like in a character but I like a strong woman and a stronger man. In spite of his childhood or training that taught him to be detached and unemotional, he started opening up and showing beautifull, romantic side of himself. True there were extended love scenes but those scenes were merger of guarded love of two people, even though they were not ready to admit it even to themselves.
  
  In short it was very romantic. There have been times that I read really good reviews for really bad books and there times that I read really bad reviews but I was glad that I read them anyway.
  
  If you are a fan then you need to purchase the book and see it for yourself. Now I can't wait for the last book of this series but if the author writes like this in the future I would definitly want to read them.
  
  I hope you enjoy it as much as I did :)
  
  
• I really hated this one!
  By A1TAS8HYNF3L18 on 2008-08-07
  First off Joleyt was so out of character, I mean this is supposed to be the wildest of the Drake's right? and well she was kinda boring for me. I thought that she was whiny and too undecisive, oh yeah and about that deep dark secret that she has about herself what the heck was that? Did we ever find out why she was pulling way from Ilya because of this secret, hell no! I think Feehan simply used this so Joley would be the typical heroine ya know the one where they constanly talk therselves out of having a relationship like all the time, very frustrating. Oh but that was not what really killed this book for me though but it sure was close. Alas do I dare even say it? Yeah I do, okay what I totally hated about this book was that Joley and Ilya's romance kinda took second stage for a gay love story between Nikitin and some gutair player in Joley's band! Suprised? well really as many authors that are putting this in their novels I am really not suprised at all. Anyway whenever I read that it just takes me out of the whole romantic feeling I get whenever I read a good romance instead I feel depressed, which is not what I want when I want to read a book by one of my fav authors er used to be fav author!
  
  This is probably the worst book I have read by her which to be perfectly honest I hated two of her Dark series books one was Dark Challenge and the other I can't remember but the heroine was a real bitch. I did watch the book trailer though on her website and I just loved it! Really that is what made me want to buy this damn book in the first place, but I noticed that some things in the trailer did not even happen! Really the trialer was so much better that the actual book! It was really hard for me to find any chemistry between these two and I really did not think that the sex scenes ( what few there were) were anything special either.
  
  
• just okay
  By A1IAS1E2YG44LB on 2008-08-10
  I liked the storyline of the book. But I have mixed feelings about the characters. Joley was too whiney at times and kept talking about her dark side, did she mean her fantasies? Don't most people have them? I like Ilya more in this book than the previous, but his domineering ways got tiresome. I also have to mention my complete frustation with the repeated phrases: her "womb clenched" and her "feminine sheath". Using them once or twice in a book is okay, not every other page.
  
  I hope Elle's story is better.
  
  
• Russian Hottie + Rockstar Witch = Good Times
  By A2WZITBR2GGLX4 on 2008-08-12
  I have to say I didn't much care for most of the books in this series but the set up for the last three sisters kept me reading through the first four books. And I was REALLY disappointed with Hannah & Jonas's book Safe Harbor (book #5). That said Turbulent Sea was worth the wait and worth all the annoyances of some of the other books!
  
  Joley is one messed up chick (like all Feehan's heroines), she's got power, a strong moral code, and thinks about others WAY before she starts thinking about herself. But of course she doesn't see any of this. She sees a rocker chick who once upon a time for like five minutes gave in to the seduction of being a super star and has come to the conclusion if anyone could see the "real" her they couldn't possibly love her (not even her sisters).
  
  Yeah the girl is the emo one in this story. Before you roll your eyes and take a pass, you have to check out Ilya...
  
  Ilya is one smokin' hot man-witch... warlock?... super-assassin?... whatever you want to call him, he's powerful, he's hot, and he's totally in love with Joley from page 1. They first met in book 3? or 4? and Feehan enjoyed dangling him in front of me like a snickers bar...
  
  So yeah, back to the review. Ilya lived up to my expectations, which were pretty high so yay for him! We get explanations for his powers and the mark Joley has on her hand that even a monkey could have predicted but it was still satisfying. The chemistry between the two of them was great! But watching them FINALLY get together was like watching a tennis match where the players randomly leave the court only to return five minutes later ready to WIN just as the other player decides to leave! One minute he wants her, then when she wants him he doesn't want her, vice versa, etc, etc, ad nauseum.
  
  Even through the push-pull, make up your freakin' minds already, craziness I still wanted to see what happened next. In my opinion, Feehan had provided so much back story in the previous installments she was left with a conflict already having been established and decided to beat it like a dead horse instead of coming up with something new. But by the time they start working together it was standing ovation worthy and I was one happy reader.
  
  The back story was actually really good and included a few surprises I was VERY happy with. Nikitin's (you know the Russian mob dude who got all stalker-happy on Joley in the previous books?) obsession with Joley is explained in a way I didn't see coming and the end... well you just have to read it to believe it. I was expecting that explanation to be the typical "see he's this way so that's why he's villain!" and was all set to be offended but Feehan turned it around and I really felt for him by the end of the book.
  
  We see into the lives of Joley's band. They aren't always likable, they aren't all punks, they are real and I was just as interested to see how they cleaned up their lives as I was to see if Ilya would finally get into Joley's pants. (Don't worry he does! And it's hot!!)
  
  One last thing (I promise!) I felt a few of the previous books were bogged down by the inclusion of ALL those sisters (and their men too!). That's a lot of strong willed opinionated powerful (and yet strangely unsure, doubting themselves, super vulnerable chicks) to have to put up with. So never fear, they are in the book BUT they only show up near the end when it actually makes sense in the storyline for them to actually be there!
  
  Overall a very enjoyable read and I am really looking forward to the next and last book.
  
  
  
• A swing and a miss
  By AOY8C39VOGFIM on 2008-08-25
  I've been waiting for this book for a long time. And while it was a fair-to-middling book, I'm sorry to say I don't feel it was worth the wait - or $7.99, for that matter. Many others have noted things about the book which I both enjoyed or found annoying or perplexing, so I'll focus on just a few that hop immediately to mind:
  
  The book was perhaps well-researched in terms of the life of a touring musician, dealing with groupies, the tabloids, and so on, but in my opinion it never made that jump to convincing or authentic, maybe in part because we never saw Joley living that life. She lived alongside it. She held herself apart. Where was the carefree "wild child" we'd been led to expect in previous books? This wasn't her, and I'm not sure which impression is the accurate one, but they didn't integrate. There were some aspects of Joley's character that I just didn't get - what was this "dark need" that Joley had? If Feehan was trying to suggest that Joley was into BDSM, dominance play and the like, it was never made clear, and because of this Joley's character doesn't feel understandably conflicted or motivated to me, and I was left with the impression that Feehan backed off, chickened out, and left character development in the lurch. And at about the quarter-way point, I'd already had quite enough of the heavy-handed musical analogies and extended metaphors. A little goes a longway. Where's the deft touch we're used to seeing from vintage Feehan?
  
  Ms. Feehan is a successful author and needs no advice, but if I could offer some, it would be SLOW DOWN. Publish fewer books per year, at a higher level of quality. We'll wait. ;-)
  
  
  
• Ouch, not really that great, except for one thing.
  By A1DP5WYZTMW9BG on 2008-08-27
  I have never written a book review on Amazon before but this book compelled me to send one in. Be warned that there are some spoilers for the story in this post so if you want to be totally surprised skip this review.
  
  I've been reading Christine Feehan for a long time and I keep wondering if her writing skills will improve at all. Apparently the answer is no. This book could have been half it's size and done the job it needed to do. How many times does the reader need to know Joley doesn't allow underage girls at her parties, or that the band "family" was destroyed by drugs and alcohol.. oh yeah and loose women? Apparently the answer is many, many times.
  
  I've read every book that this author has written, and I can't honestly say if I'll buy another one. Not only were things repeated over and over and over, but the characters felt fake to me. All the members of the band, even Joley and Ilya themselves don't feel true to the characters we were introduced to in previous books. I mean Ilya goes from being raised in a severly abusive environment to all the sudden being able to love Joley with all his heart? That just doesn't ring true to life, and I know that this is a romance but hopefully some of real life is in a book.
  
  One good thing that Feehan does do is handle the relationship between Brian and Nikitan very well. She doesn't preach about it being bad or good, she just simply shows love between two characters that happen to be male. Kudos to her for dealing with this with sensitivity and grace. It's the only reason this review got 2 stars instead of just one.
  
  To all the Feehan fans out there, please go read some Sherrilyn Kenyon or J.R. Ward if you want good, well written paranormal romance. To Mrs. Feehan, please take a basic workshop in writing a fiction story, even though you are published you could be such an awesome writer if you just change a few things.
  
  
• Turbulent Sea- A Joyfully Recommended Title
  By A320TMDV6KCFU on 2008-09-07
  The sixth of seven magical sisters, Joley Drake has the gift of spell-singing, a talent that has helped her skyrocket to fame and fortune. For the beautiful rock star, life on tour can be crazy, hectic, and fraught with peril. The paparazzi hounds her, and the trappings of success have brought down some of her band members, bringing the Russian mob to her doorstep, and with them, the one man she cannot resist.
  
  Ilya Prakenskii has lived his life in isolation, cultivating his reputation as a ruthless hit man and bodyguard as he works to bring down his current employer. His existence had been cold, emotionless, until the first moment he heard Joley's voice. And after meeting Joley in person, he knows she is the one woman fated to be his. For Joley isn't the only one with magic in her blood, and Ilya is prepared to use every seductive trick he can to keep the songstress into his life, forever.
  
  As danger explodes around the pair, Joley turns to one man she believes to keep her safe. But even as passion burns bright between the two, Joley has a decision to make. Should she play it safe or risk everything and give her heart to a man she isn't completely sure she can trust?
  
  Prepare yourselves for a fiery, passionate romance which is, indeed, as turbulent as the sea. Christine Feehan has written yet another incredible installment in her Drake Sisters series. Ever since book three of the series, Oceans of Fire, I've waited for the dynamic pairing of Joley Drake and Ilya Prakenskii and Turbulent Sea lived up to my expectations. Ilya was dark, dominant, and completely endearing in his absolute certainty of his love for Joley and his determination to keep her safe. In Turbulent Sea, Ms. Feehan shows a more vulnerable side to Joley, who on the surface seems so strong and carefree, and the contrast only makes her more endearing. The desire brewing between Ilya and Joley was spellbinding and pulled me in from the start. The passionate draw between the two could have carried the story on its own. Yet Ms. Feehan drew me in further with the underlying tenderness between Joley and Ilya as I watched two souls learn to trust one another with their love.
  
  So often I read books where the heroine, though likeable, is simply the mechanism for me to fall in love with the hero. Not so with the Drake sisters. Each sister is a fully-fleshed, realistic character I love for herself alone, and Joley is no exception. Where Ilya is dark and cold with hints of lightness in his soul, Joley is brilliant, vibrant, with just enough darkness to understand Ilya. The two compliment and complete one another, but even before I fell in love with their romance, I had connected to both Ilya and Joley for themselves alone.
  
  If I could ask for one thing to be included in this book, it would be for Ilya to share more of his past with Joley. As it stands, however, the book was fantastic from beginning to end and both the characters and the story felt fully realized. Ms. Feehan does not disappoint - I Joyfully Recommend Turbulent Sea and cannot wait for the youngest Drake sister, Elle, to get her story. Simply fabulous!
  
  Shayna
  reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed
  
  
• Ilya and Joley finally!
  By A2E6FHZ5Q5FB6G on 2008-09-11
  I love this book! The chemistry between these two is at times difficult for them both to understand. They often end up hurting each other by doing or saying the wrong thing-how many times does that happen in real life? How can you trust each other if you feel you can't trust yourself? This is the fundamental question that both Ilya and Joley must answer before they can truly commit to each other; and then of course there are Joley's "dark desires". Many who have already have written reviews seem to have a hard time grasping where Christine Feehan was going, wondering if it was possibly a BSDM reference. I have a different idea on the statement she was trying to make. In our society women are, generally speaking, supposed to want a relationship where they take the lead just like the man and decisions are a 50/50 affair, especially if you're a superstar...But what if you had a dark desire for a man who would be dominating and who would take care of you? Who would tell you what to do? Who would cherish you; treat you the way you really want to be treated? Like Joley said to Hannah in "Turbulent Sea", "I despise men weaker than me and hate men who are stronger than me. That pretty much leaves me nowhere to go." I feel that deep inside some women want the man who will take control, be loving and gentle, yet ruthless and arrogant all at the same time; the problem is Joley likes things that she feels she's not supposed to like, she loves Ilya's dominating ways and that's what causes her a problem. Joley has to learn just like all her other sister's to accept herself for who she is. The truth of the matter finally comes to light and Joley learns -In order to truly belong to someone you have to love and accept yourself as you truly are. This was an amazing book! I can barley wait for Jackson and Elle's book! Keep up the good work!
  
  
• Outstanding!
  By A2FWAS4GLC5XZ on 2008-07-30
  For me, this was the best book out of the Drake Sisters Novels! I had hope for a great read on Joley & Ilya story and Mrs Feehan deliver. I could not stop reading until the book was finish. Highly recommended!!
  
  
• Good, but not as great as I expected
  By A31X6BAS1FEVBE on 2008-07-31
  Joley Drake, one of the most successful and famous singers of the world, and with magic running through her veins, is in a tour of shows with her band. The Russian mobster Nikitin is there frequently, and so is Ilya Prakenskii, the man who'd marked Joley and one she can't get out of her head.
  After the disappearance of a minor in a party held by Nikitin during the tour, a murder, and threats against Joley, Ilya becomes her personal bodyguard, creating a very explosive situation between them.
  
  I was a little bored in some parts of the first half of the book. Joley and Ilya have so much sexual tension that is difficult to develop in depth other aspects of their relationship.
  The second half was much better. Joley is crazy but torn about Ilya. Her body and her soul claim for him, but her head doesn't think the same. All the rumors say Ilya is a hit man, and he doesn't deny it. Because of it, Joley can't trust him. Also, she doesn't think she's worthy of love, because of her "dark needs". Not very believable, really. Although I liked her, she wasn't as strong as in previous books.
  Ilya is an authoritarian and domineering man with a strong personality, who knows Joley is his, and he will do anything to get her. He wants her trust and love, a future together, but at the same time, because of the harsh life he had, he finds difficult to open to her.
  I liked how their relationship was developed, how they began to know intimately each other, their fears, their plans for the future, the real Joley and Ilya.
  Regarding side stories, there are some romances among the band members, and as always, the rest of the Drakes make appearances. I missed Elle and Jackson, as they are the couple of the next book, but well, I suppose not all of them could appear here.
  And well, if I liked it, why not 5 stars? Perhaps I had too many expectations regarding Joley and Ilya. I liked them a lot in the previous books, but their story didn't excite me as much as I hoped. Even so, I liked it, and I recommend it to all Drake sisters' fans.
  
  
• Exciting
  By A1FZ03574SERL8 on 2008-07-31
  I LOVED the way this book was played out. The music, the emotion and the love. They are both "turbulent" people and the book needed to showcase that, which it does well.
  I agree with the others who say the sisters arent in this book till the end and that is disappointing, when in the other books, they were in the story line often. Usually you get interaction with the characters in the next book coming out about the Drake sisters but Elle was only mentioned and wasnt "in" the book at all.
  Other than that it was an amazing story of what we all were expeting from Joley & Ilya
  
  
• A Bit Disappointed
  By A4M6FMWK4MOKQ on 2008-07-31
  First, let me say that I LOVE Christine Feehan's books, most especially the Drake sisters. That said, I have to say that I was a bit disappointed with this book. I liked the interaction between Joley and Ilya, and between Joley and members of her band (Brian, Logan, Tish), however, I sorely missed Joley's family. The thing that I have always loved about the Drake books is the close, tight relationship between the sisters. And I just didn't feel it in this book. I've searched far and wide for books about "witches" and their families and the Drakes and Nora Robert's "Three Sister Island" have that something special for me. I was sadly disappointed that it was missing from Joley's story. I sincerely hope that we see a whole lot more of the magic and the family ties in Elle's story.
  
  
• Amazing!!! Can't wait for Elle's book now....
  By A7PY4LUV41SUA on 2008-07-31
  Christine Feehan has another winner on her hands. Joley and Ilya's story is amazing. Joley and Ilya tangle each other up in Turbulent Sea. Joley is strong, vulnerable and beautiful inside and out; she is also impatient, tempermental and passionate. Christine created a wonderful Joley that people can relate to. Ilya is strong, patient (where Joley is not) and very passionate. Seeing Ilya and Joley together is like watching the fireworks on July 4th. I fell in love with the story. Ilya and Joley struggle to make a go of their relationship. Joley's insecurities and her attempts to keep her distance from Ilya are fascinating. Turbulent Sea moves fairly fast with unanswered questions and some answers about the next book in the series, Elle's book Hidden Current.
  
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  I guess another area of Turbulent Sea that makes you wonder is about Ilya's brothers. Are they going to make an appearance in any of Christine's books for the future?! If they are anything like Ilya, I can't wait to get my hands on them. :)
  
  
• Great book -- but not necessarily the best Drake sisters' novel
  By AZ3U0DM73ZF8V on 2008-08-05
  I have been waiting for Joley and Ilya's story since he appeared in the storyline, and it's a satisfying enough story to sate my curiosity.
  
  HOWEVER, this didn't feel like a Drake sister's novel, as the other sisters barely even appear in the book, except in phone conversations and small cameos. Their significant others appear more, and are more overbearing than normal. I kept waiting for a Drake power scene, where they kick butt as a group, but it focuses more on Ilya saving Joley than the power the sisters share. There is a great vibe with the band, and you can see the surrogate family that Joley has when she's on the road.
  
  Ilya and Joley's love story is believable and satisfying, but there aren't enough explanations to complete it. (How did Ilya mark her?)
  
  All in all, it's a hot, satisfying book, but doesn't fit as well in the series as I had hoped.
  
  
• AHHHH welcome back Drake Sisters!
  By A2BGNUCAJRYPN on 2008-08-08
  I've been a Christine Feehan fan for quite some time now. And I would have to agree with some of the reviews which note the last few Drake Sister novels have been fallen a little flat for me. I expected Hannah and Jonas to be a lot better than it was, and was let down. I was very mixed after that book. Jolie and Ellie's story from the beginning have been the ones I couldn't wait for.
  
  This story was exactly what I was expecting. I think it was well written, I wasn't ever bored and the fire and passion were there. I loved finding out about the mark that Ilya put on Jolie. I kept waiting for Ilya to have the heart to heart with Jolie, the here's my life and what I've been through, you never really get that. Jolie is very tolerating of the fact she really doesn't know too much (which I thought was against her character). She also kept talking about dark desires and how she wasn't worthy, and didn't really see any of those either. I loved that my suspicions were proven about Ilya. I think that was a great way to continue the story for Christine Feehan after Ellie's book!
  
  I would agree the secondary character chatter is quite involved, but I didn't feel it was trying to take over the story. There's alot of characters in this story. You meet the whole band and find out quite a bit about them. Turns out Jolie may be the most layed back of them all.
  
  In one of the reviews someone said the "Mine" was reminiscent of the Carpathian series... you know.. I don't care what the book is, when a very alpha male says mine.. it doesn't get sexier than that!!
  
  Overall loved the book. I think those who felt a little let down with Hannah's book will be fulfilled with this one. I really can't wait for Ellie's story now. I think Jackson will be quite the alpha male. YUM!!
  
  
  
• Ilya at last! But Turbulent Sea is not as 'magical' as the early Drake sisters' stories
  By A1DW5IH6QCOFQ7 on 2008-08-09
  The magical enigmatic Ilya Prakenskii has demanded the spotlight since his first appearance in Ocean's of Fire. Now finally it's his turn and the dark dangerous Ilya's courting style is nothing other than what you'd expect from him. He `stalks' superstar singer and magical Drake sister Jolie like the preditor that he is and settles for no less than the total possession of Jolie's heart, body and soul. But Jolie resists his claim at first, her fear of the shadows that mask Ilya's aura competing with the seductive power of Ilya's mark of upon her, until she finally listens to `their music' when they come together and realizes that not only can she trust him despite his nasty reputation but also he is a destiny that she can't deny.
  
  Jolie is okay here, but not quite the bad girl that she seemed in previous books and she's not as secure either, questioning her judgement and her needs. Considering the incredibly supportive nuturing family that she grew up in and the strength she showed in the previous books I found this a bit surprising. But even though Jolie is not all that she should have been, it's not really a problem because Ilya dominates the pages every bit as much as has in the previous books - his part in Safe Harbor (Drake Sisters, Book 5) nearly overshadowing Hannah and Jonas and sent me back to the Oceans of Fire (Drake Sisters, Book 3) to reread the parts that he was in. I would have liked to have delved more into Ilya's past here but the one major thing that we find out about him is really cool - Joley's life is going to take a surprising turn.
  
  Even though this was a Drake sister romance it felt much more like one of Feehan's Ghostwalkers. Other than Ilya's 'ghosting' ability, some use of their healing powers and the psychic connection that they share, neither Jolie with her `enchanting voice' or the multipowered Ilya use their magic much. And unlike the other sisters' stories, interaction between Jolie and the rest of her sisters and their part in Jolie's story was minimal and they were missed. Feehan tried to fill in with Jolie's band member 'family', but though Bryan captures our sympathy, the sisters' shoes are just too big for him and Logan to fill. Besides that, the suspense elements were fine and Ilya's battles would make this into a great action adventure flick if it were a movie. And if you like Feehan's writing style you'll like this one too. I like Feehan's storytelling in general and but tend to skip over the repetitve physical reactions of her romantic leads as they clench, drench and harden whenever they are together no matter what else is going on - Next up for the Drake series is final sister Elle's story out in 2009, and Dark Curse (The Carpathians (Dark) Series, Book 16) and Murder Game (GhostWalkers, Book 7) are coming soon.
  
  
  

• Acheron (Dark-Hunter, Book 12)
• Dark Curse (The Carpathians (Dark) Series, Book 16)
• Predatory Game (GhostWalkers, Book 6)
• Magic in the Wind (Drake Sisters, Book 1)
• One Silent Night (Dark-Hunter, Book 13)